While studying Job with the kids we came across a verse that made us a bit angry with Job's friends, but after it sank in a bit we realised it has two sides. Job's friend Elifaz said in Job 16;11 "Are God's comfortings not enough for you?" We were thinking WHAT comforts? Job had lost all his children, all his wealth, he is now covered with worm-eaten, puss-spewing sores from head to toe. He doesn't eat, he sleeps in dirt and wakes up in dirt for the past months. WHAT COMFORTS?
His other friend just heaped on more insult. In 11:6, "understand that God is demanding of you less than your guilt deserves." We were really going cazy now. What friends are these? Well in our every day life we have them too. Have you ever been in a situation where the people who used to look up to you look down on you? They are blinded to your innocence and just fail to comfort you.
We had a blast when we read how Job answered his so-called "friends", Job 13:5, "you are witch doctors! I wish you would just stay silent; for you that would be wisdom?"
On the other hand we started thinking about the deeper truth of what the friend is revealing about God. They shed a light on a God that does not "care" about our wordly "comforts" when it comes to following HIM.
When He calls us out to follow HIM out, He does not tell us about the road ahead. He lures us out to the desert where HE will meet with us and speak to us. The desert is the place where your only help is God. For example, God called Abraham and his desert was willingness to give his all. God called Joseph. His desert were all his trials and humiliations. God called David who had to fight Giants and many wars. These men were not in their "comfort" zone. They were utterly dependent on God. He spoke and they heard HIM clearly. And Israel was promised a land of milk and honey but had to face the desert; the place where God spoke to them. Although they were slaves in Egypt, they had "comforts" because they had the best part of Egypt and no plagues. However God was not interested in their comfort zone. He had to deliver them from oppression. Well this is also the image of our everyday life. We too are slaves to our comfort zone. When God calls you out, you will go through desert experiences. There He will meet and speak with you.
Before we left Holland we felt called to a place of plenty. My mind was working overhours imagining all these wonderful wordly comforts. I had it all planned out. However I had not seen my desert. Psalm 66;12, we went through fire and water. But you brought us out to a place of plenty. I had only seen the place of plenty. The place of plenty I so longed for looks nothing like the place I had planned out yet. God lured us out of our "comfort". and here in the desert we have learned that His comfortings are indeed enough. Because we are now in the place where only HE can get the Glory for our provision. In the desert we have arrived at our place of plenty, where God our provider has PLENTY. We can now access it by trusting in HIM. This is still not an easy task. because the desert is still very real. But our hope is in HIM.
Peter testifies; in Peter 4;1-2, Therefore, since the Messiah suffered physically, you too are to arm your self with the same attitude.
Willing to follow God
For whoever has suffered physically is finished with sin, with the result that he lives the rest of his earthly life no longer controlled by human desires, but by the will of God.
God will deal with all our Idols in the desert. Like He did with Israel. The comfort zone has become the idol of many. These comfortzones are in all areas of life and not just in wordly wealth.
For you have spent enough time already living the way the pagans want you to live-....*
Jesus said don't worry about these thing. Seek the Kingdom. Look for God in your desert, and trust HIM only for everything.
Verse 6, they might live by the spirit in the way God has provided.
This speaks for its self. He doesn't only provide comforts we daily need, but he is the pillow we can lay our head on and truly rest and find comfort from all our daily struggles. So His comforting is more then enough for us.
God Bless.
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